UN: Technology Threatens Whistled Language in Turkey
联合国：科技威胁土耳其口哨语言的传承
The United Nations is calling for urgent action to protect a whistled language used in a mountainous area of Turkey.
联合国呼吁采取紧急行动，保护土耳其山区地区使用的一种口哨语言。
The UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, has identified the "bird language" as an endangered cultural heritage.
联合国教育、科学和文化组织，即联合国教科文组织（UNESCO）将这种“鸟语”列为濒危文化遗产。
UNESCO noted that technological developments, as well as social and economic changes, have led to a drop in the number of people who communicate in this way. It also noted a drop in the number of areas where the language is spoken.
联合国教科文组织指出科技进步、社会和经济变革造成使用这种语言进行交流的人数锐减。同时，使用这种语言进行交流的地区也在减少。
The UN agency placed much of the blame on the use of mobile phones.
该组织将其归咎于手机的使用。
A whistled language is a highly-developed method of communication. People use whistling sounds in place of words. The language was created as a way to communicate across great distances in difficult mountain conditions.
口哨语言是一种高度发展的交流方式。人们使用口哨声代替言语。这种语言用于在困难山区进行长距离的沟通。
Most whistling sounds are created by blowing air through the lips and teeth. Sometimes fingers and the tongue are also used to make different or louder sounds.
哨声由嘴唇和牙齿之间的空气震动产生。有时加上手指和舌头的作用可以发出不同或更大的声音。
To communicate, people use whistling to simulate, or create, the sound of some words. They also use sound patterns, repeating certain sounds, to represent other common words and expressions.
为了交流，人们用口哨声模拟或创作一些词的发音。他们也会利用语音模式，重复一些声音，代替其他类似的词或表达。
New words and terms can be added to keep up with changes in spoken language and cultural life.
一些新词和表达也会被添加进去，跟随口语和文化生活的变迁。
UNESCO estimates the whistled language is spoken or understood by about 10,000 people in the Eastern Black Sea area of northern Turkey. However, only a small number of villagers still use the language. Currently, officials estimate it is mostly only spoken in a small community in Giresun province.
联合国教科文组织预计使用或理解这种口哨语言在土耳其北部黑海东部地区有一万人。然而如今只有很少数量的村民仍在使用这种语言。官员预计只有吉雷松省的一个小社区仍然在使用这种语言。
UN officials say members of the community consider the practice a major part of their cultural identity. They believe using the language helps strengthen interpersonal communication and solidarity.
联合国官员表示，该社区的成员将这种语言视为他们文化认同的重要一部分。他们认为使用这种语言有助于加强人际间的交流和团结。
UNESCO called whistled language "an environmentally friendly form of communication." It added the language can make life easier and "reinforce social bonds for the people living in the region."
联合国教科文组织称口哨语言是“一种环境友好型的交流方式”。该组织还表示这种语言可以让生活更容易，“加强该区域居民的社会纽带”。
With the new generation’s lack of interest in whistled language, there is the risk it will eventually be "torn from its natural environment, becoming an artificial practice," UNESCO said.
随着新生一代对这种口哨语言兴趣寥寥，这种语言面临威胁，可能最终“会从自然环境中消失，成为一种人工实践”，教科文组织称。
In Turkey, at least one group has been formed to find ways to keep the whistled language strong. The group is working to create a plan for passing the language on to future generations.
